Season 3 – Episode 015: With Jackie Le Fèvre Ever felt like you’re swimming against the tide at work, but can’t quite put your finger on why? Or maybe you’ve said “yes” to something only to regret it later, wondering why you ignored that gut feeling? Welcome to the world of values—the invisible compass that shapes your decisions, reactions, and even your stress levels. In this episode of A Job Done Well, James and Jimmy are joined by Dr. Jackie Le Fèvre, a values specialist with a PhD in the subject (yes, really), to peel back the layers on what values actually are, why they matter, and how understanding them can transform your work life. Jackie, who started her career as a zoologist … [Read more...]
How to Make Difficult Conversations Easy
Season 3 – Episode 7: With Amanda Gilbert In this episode of "A Job Done Well," James Lawther and Jimmy Barber are joined by learning and development expert Amanda Gilbert to tackle a topic we all face but often dread: difficult conversations at work (and beyond).After a quick catch-up (including university choices and Jimmy’s book recommendation for every man who has a mother), the team discuss why tough conversations feel so challenging—and how we can handle them better. Amanda introduces the "Ladder of Inference" model, helping us see how our assumptions and stories can unnecessarily escalate situations (including James’ run-in with a taxi driver!). Amanda shows how quickly we can jump … [Read more...]
How to Deal With Difficult People
Season 3 – Episode 2: Don't Be One of Them In this week's episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss strategies for dealing with difficult people at work. We all know them – those you dread interacting with – maybe they don't listen, or they snipe from the sidelines. Perhaps they ignore you, or nothing ever sticks to them when things go wrong. Regardless of who they are, James and Jimmy discuss how to deal with them effectively – both in the moment and over the long term, if their behaviour is systemic. James and Jimmy also challenge their own behaviour and yours, so that you do not become someone else's 'difficult person' If that isn’t enough, they also discuss the perils of … [Read more...]
Emotional Intelligence
Season 1 – Episode 23: What Is It and How Can You Develop It? This week, we talked to our resident L&D Guru, Amanda Gilbert, about Emotional Intelligence (EQ). What is it, why should you use it, what are the risks, and how can you develop it? Jimmy was put out by Rishi Sunak's lack of EQ when he trashed the credibility of his favourite trainers. James struggled to see the problem (he still can't spell empathy). If you've ever wondered about EQ and want to learn how to develop yours and improve your relationships, listen on. Sources and extra material are available below. … [Read more...]